ALBANY -- Opponents of Marcellus shale gas drilling warned Tuesday of crime and social unrest if New York state permits hydro-fracking, comparing the industry to an "invasion."

"Across the country, fracking is accompanied by steep increases in crime rates and greater strain on social services," Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan said as he and other officials held a round of meetings with state officials. "That hit home for Binghamton recently when an out-of-state gas industry employee shot two police officers. We can't afford this. Our communities deserve better."

"The fiscal stress that upstate urban cities are currently operating under does not relieve us of our duty to protect our municipalities from an invasion of unknown and unintended consequences," added Elmira Mayor Sue Skidmore. "The promised jobs and improved economy have yet to be proven long-term anywhere, which makes me skeptical that fracking would bring positive growth to NY."

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The comments drew a rebuke from the NYS Petroleum Council, a pro-drilling group.

"Matt Ryan and Sue Skidmore must have been in Hollywood, or maybe in New York City with Yoko Ono, on Election Day," executive director Karen Moreau said. "Otherwise, how could they have missed the resounding vote in support of safe natural gas development from throughout the Southern Tier?"

"The voters spoke in a clear voice, electing supporters of hydraulic fracturing by significant margins at the town, county, state and federal levels. Ryan and Skidmore can choose to ignore the will of the people - and they clearly are - but they cannot ignore the fact that voters from the Marcellus Shale want the jobs and revenues hydraulic fracturing will produce while protecting land, water and public health."

Ryan's group Elected Officials to Protect New York said it "represents more than 525 local elected officials from 61 counties" opposed to hydro-fracking. They were in Albany for a press conference and meetings with legislative staff and officials at the Department of Environmental Conservation.

The state's review of fracking has been going on for years, with the Health Department now looking at possible impacts. Ryan's group wants "a comprehensive health impact assessment, a thorough socioeconomic impact assessment that considers all potentially negative impacts, and a revised and properly thorough study of cumulative impacts."

It's unclear when a verdict will be rendered on hydrofracking. The drilling method has been cleared by the EPA and has the backing of President Obama, but it has run into vocal opposition in New York, which sits atop massive natural gas deposits.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not taken a position one way or another on fracking, saying he awaits the results of the state studies.